When it comes to dealing with moral and philosophical issues that impact our humanity and our belief systems, science fiction literature offers a wonderful platform for creative engagement. Unfortunately, thoughtful science fiction films are few and far between. Arrival, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker, is one of the few and is worth seeing. Writing about this film is difficult, because it is would be easy to share spoilers that would, well, spoil the film for you. There is a significant twist that is interwoven throughout the film and, I have to admit, someone had to explain it to me. The protagonist of the story is Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist who is enlisted by the military to interpret the language of a crew of an alien craft that has landed (actually, it never touches the ground) in Montana. There are twelve of these craft all over the world. Various governments are working to discover how to communicate with the aliens. ...
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him